Larry Bird Wants Lance Stephenson Back Next Season

Free agency doesn’t open for about a month, and yet the Lance Stephenson FA circus is already well underway. Many have speculated that Stephenson’s antics during the Eastern Conference Finals might spell trouble for his long-term status with the Pacers, and at the very least cost him some dough on the open market. Pacers President Larry Bird didn’t seem too pleased with Born Ready during the series against the Heat, but it doesn’t appear he’ll let Lance walk, either. From ProBasketballTalk.com:

Is Lance Stephenson going to be back in Indiana next fall?

‘Well you don’t know, he’s a free agent and can do whatever he wants. But obviously we will talk about it the next week or two, of our game plan… He’s a free agent, he can talk to any team he wants, and when it comes down to it, it comes down to whether he wants to be here or not.’

Does Bird want him back?

‘I always want him back. You just don’t let talent like that walk away if you can help it.’